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2015 Charlie Parker Jazz Festival This Weekend

City Parks Foundation is proud to announce the 22nd edition of the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, made possible with the generous support of the Dalio Foundation. Founded in memoriam of beloved jazz musician Charlie Parker, this festival annually attracts thousands of fans to two historic parks in Manhattan. The festival will kick off the first of its three days on August 21st in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, blocks from the famous jazz clubs where Parker graced the stage, and move to Tompkins Square Park in the East Village on Sunday, just across the street from the late Parker’s apartment.

Prior to the launch of the festival, we invite fans to participate in a free panel hosted at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music celebrating the musical legacy of Charlie Parker featuring two musicians participating in the shows, Oliver Lake and Rudresh Mahanthappa.

In the words of Miles Davis, “You can tell the history of jazz in four words: Louis Armstrong. Charlie Parker.” Almost sixty years after his passing, Parker is celebrated and credited for his contribution to modern music through rhythmically and melodically complex solos and his creation of the bebop sound. The acts in this year’s festival will offer a wide range of performances reflective of Parker’s music and of the ever-changing genre of jazz. From Dr. Lonnie Smith to Myra Melford, this year’s lineup will feature both jazz veterans and up-and-coming stars alike.

Come join us to celebrate Charlie Parker’s legacy – both to New York City and to the world of jazz.